Bottom line: PEQ (Programme de l'expérience québécoise) closed permanently on November 19, 2025. Former PEQ candidates now route through PRTQ via the Arrima invitation system. Arrima is points-based and weights French heavily — four-skill NCLC 7 (B2) is the practical threshold for receiving an invitation, even though minimums on paper are lower. Below: how the new system works, the TCF Canada vs TCF Québec distinction that trips up most candidates, and three realistic paths for ex-PEQ applicants.
Quebec permanent immigration now runs primarily through PRTQ (Programme régulier des travailleurs qualifiés) under the Arrima expression-of-interest portal. The flow mirrors federal Express Entry but is Quebec-specific:
Other Quebec pathways (business immigration, family sponsorship, refugee streams) exist but are not realistic alternatives for most ex-PEQ candidates. PRTQ via Arrima is effectively the path.
| Skill | Paper minimum | Competitive line (to get invited) |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking / Listening | NCLC 7 (B2) | NCLC 7–8 |
| Reading / Writing | NCLC 5–7 (B1–B2) | NCLC 7 |
| Quebec credentials | — | Heavy weight; without them you need higher French to compensate |
Critical: PRTQ technically accepts NCLC 5 writing, but Arrima is competitive — candidates without four-skill NCLC 7 plus Quebec work or study experience rarely receive invitations. Treat NCLC 7 as your real target, not NCLC 5.
These are two different exams from the same organization (France Éducation International), with identical format (39 reading + 39 listening + 3 writing tasks + 3 speaking tasks) and identical difficulty, but different administrative purposes:
Quebec historically required TCF Québec or TEFAQ. Verify the current accepted-tests list at quebec.ca/en/immigration before booking — don't assume TCF Canada scores transfer to Quebec automatically.
For dual-track candidates (applying to both Quebec Arrima and federal Express Entry), the typical strategy is to sit TCF Canada first (Express Entry eligibility), then TCF Québec separately for Arrima. The exam format is identical, so prep on platforms like Claire AI's 43 TCF mock sets applies to both — your duplicated cost is the exam fee plus another sitting.
The most direct route. If your original PEQ plan relied on Quebec study or work experience, those credentials still count under Arrima. Get TCF Québec scores → enter the Arrima pool → wait for an invitation.
Going from NCLC 5–6 to NCLC 7 typically takes 8–16 weeks of focused prep, with speaking fluency and B2 argumentative writing as the main bottlenecks. See our TCF Canada preparation timeline.
If your PEQ advantage was Quebec credentials but French won't reach NCLC 7 in your timeframe, consider federal Express Entry instead. NCLC 7+ French + CLB 5+ English unlocks an extra 25–50 CRS points. See IRCC French Bonus Complete Guide.
Last updated: 2026-05-09 · Sources: Quebec permanent immigration · FEI TCF official · IRCC language requirements